Faithful Journey New York
June 21 at 2:00 PM ·Flame Steak & Pussycat Cinema, 1607 Broadway & 49th Street, New York City (1978)
By 1978, the corner of Broadway and 49th Street offered a raw look at the dual identities of Midtown Manhattan. The Flame Steak house served sizzling platters under flashing signage while, right next door, the Pussycat Cinema advertised adult features in bold block letters. Pedestrians passed by quickly, some avoiding eye contact while others lingered under neon lights. Times Square was gritty in those years, a mix of street hustlers, theatergoers, and out-of-town tourists. The glow of marquees reflected on wet pavement as cars honked and music spilled from storefronts. Theater employees stood out front smoking cigarettes, chatting with passersby. Trash swirled near storm drains, caught in the gusts from passing buses. The whole block thrummed with tension and energy, a snapshot of New York before its more sanitized reinvention in the coming decade.
